
Salzbergwerk Berchtesgaden
Germany’s oldest active salt mine (since 1517): guided tour with a mine train, two miners’ slides, and a raft ride across the underground Spiegelsee lake.
Over het museum
Salt has been produced in the Berchtesgadener Land since the Middle Ages: mining began on the Tuval near Schellenberg at the end of the 12th century and later also on the Gollenbach. In 1517, Prince-Provost Gregor Rainer had the Petersberg gallery opened – the beginning of today’s salt mine, which has operated without interruption ever since. The brine initially went to the Schellenberg saltworks, and from 1564 also to the Frauenreuth saltworks in Berchtesgaden.
When the prince-provostry came to an end, Berchtesgaden passed to Bavaria in 1816, and the mine became part of the state saltworks administration. Georg von Reichenbach built a brine pipeline about 29 kilometers long to Bad Reichenhall, through which Berchtesgaden brine flowed from December 1817. Selected guests were allowed to enter the mine as early as 1816, and from 1880 it was open to all visitors.
Today the mine is operated by Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke AG, which extracts salt by solution mining as brine. The visitor area was completely redesigned in 2007, along with a new visitor center. The roughly one-hour tour begins with a ride on the mine train deep into the mountain to the Kaiser-Franz-Sinkwerk, descends via two miners’ slides, and crosses the Spiegelsee lake by raft about 130 meters below the surface. An underground cinema on the formation of the Alps and a staged salt chamber round out the tour, during which visitors wear protective overalls.
Hoogtepunten
- Ride on the mine train into the mountain
- Two miners’ slides up to 40 meters long
- Raft ride across the Spiegelsee about 130 meters underground
- Underground cinema on the formation of the Alps and of salt
- Salt mine in continuous operation since 1517
- Opgericht
- 1517
- Beheerder
- Südwestdeutsche Salzwerke AG
Toegangsprijzen & kortingen
| Volwassenen | € 26,50 |
|---|---|
| Met korting | € 23,50School and university students aged 17 to 25, and adults with a severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis) |
| Kinderen & jongeren | € 13,50gratis t/m 3 jaar · Children aged 4 to 16; children under 13 only when accompanied by an adult |
| Senioren | –No senior discount |
| Mensen met een beperking | € 23,50Children with a severe disability ID €12. People with walking impairments or intellectual disabilities only with a companion; a free ticket for companions is not explicitly mentioned. |
| Studenten | € 23,50Ages 17 to 25 |
| Groepen (vanaf 20 pers.) | € 23,50 p.p.Adults €23.50, children/school students (ages 4–18) €12; one free ticket per 25 paying participants; reserve online, pay on site. |
| Gezinnen | € 592 adults and 1 child up to age 16 |
| Additional child on a family ticket | € 8 |
| Combination ticket with Alte Saline Bad Reichenhall – adults | € 33Children €17, family €75, additional child €10 |
| Private tour without other guests (1–50 people) | € 1.175Flat rate |
| Dinner in the salt mine – adults | € 145Children up to age 16 €92 |
Fixed prices; the ticket shop does not vary prices by time slot. Buying online with your preferred date and time is recommended; online tickets are non-refundable. 10% discount with the BGL Tagesticket Bus & Bahn (day ticket). Combination tickets with the Kehlsteinhaus, Königssee, Jennerbahn, or Berchtesgadener Advent for groups of 20 or more at the ticket office.
Toegankelijkheid
- Rolstoeltoegankelijk: niet aanwezig
- Lift: geen informatie
- Aangepast toilet: geen informatie
- Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats: geen informatie
- Hulphonden welkom: niet aanwezig
- Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
- Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
- Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
- Audiodescriptie: geen informatie
Not suitable for wheelchairs because of stairs and narrow emergency exits; walkers are not permitted. People with walking impairments only with a companion, at the discretion of the staff on site. About 800 meters on foot underground; the slides can be bypassed via stairs. Dogs are not allowed.
Kinderen & gezin
Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen
| Bezoekduur | ca. 1,5 uur |
|---|---|
| Toegang kinderen | gratis t/m 3 jaar |
| Gezinsticket | € 59 · 2 adults and 1 child up to age 16 |
- Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
- Kinderwagenvriendelijk: niet aanwezig
Visits are possible at any age; children under 13 only when accompanied by adults. Underground: mine train, wooden slides (can be bypassed), and a raft ride. Strollers and backpack carriers cannot be taken along; baby carriers are available to borrow. Children up to 3 years free.
Bereikbaarheid & parkeren
Met het openbaar vervoer
Salzbergwerk · 250 m
Bus 840 (Berchtesgaden – Marktschellenberg – Salzburg) from Berchtesgaden station to the stop "Salzbergwerk" (about 5 min.); on foot from the station about 30 minutes (1.4 km).
Met de auto
Betaald parkeren
Paid visitor parking lot (Contipark, Salzburger Straße 24, card payment) with 12 EV charging points; free bus parking in front of the visitor center; motorcycles at Bergwerkstraße 81.
The BGL day ticket gives a 10% discount on admission.
Route plannenService & horeca
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museumwinkel
- Kluisjes
- Wifi
Restaurant Bergschänke in the former machine building (up to 110 seats, terrace on the Ache), snack bar and salt shop in the visitor center. Free Wi-Fi in front of the entrance.
Evenementen & zaalverhuur
- Ruimtes te huur
- Zakelijke evenementen
Corporate events, Christmas parties, anniversaries, and product presentations above and below ground, including in the Kaiser-Franz-Sinkwerk; can be booked exclusively with Restaurant Bergschänke outside opening hours. Dinner in the salt mine and the Advent event “Stade Zeit im Berg.”
Aanvragen & detailsJe bezoek plannen
| Rondleidingen | ja · duur ca. 60 min. |
|---|---|
| Audiotour | ja |
| Aanbod voor scholen | ja |
| Fotograferen | Photography and filming underground are not allowed for safety reasons; photos of you on the slides can be purchased. |
| Goed om te weten | Visits are by guided tour only (about 1 hour, max. 50 people) at a booked time; allow 1.5–2 hours in total; protective suit provided (up to size 5XL). Free audio guides in 17 languages. Underground, the temperature is a constant 12 °C; warm clothing and sturdy footwear are recommended. Backpacks and bulky items go in lockers. |





